We weren't even half-an- hour into the aftermath of Newcastle United’s painful derby defeat against Sunderland, but Toon boss Alan Pardew knew what was coming.

He’d been reminded enough of the horror of derby defeats for previous managers by his staff and just how much of a setback it would be.

Now he was living his worst nightmare.

Pardew has endured some tough times as manager of Newcastle since taking over in unceremonious circumstances from Chris Hughton at the end of 2010.

But none of those times compared to this week.

He has to face the music now in what will be the biggest test yet of his managerial credentials.

Pardew knows the damage caused by derby defeat, but now he must do something about it – actions will speak louder than words at the Hawthorns tomorrow.

After 45 trophy-less years, United fans are used to being grateful for small mercies.

Whether that be a team that plays good entertaining football, a team that battles hard and shows a bit of steel and bottle or whether that means gaining a place in European competition.

Even when United were relegated four years ago, they still came in their droves.

Losing to Sunderland is different, and it was clear from the moment Pardew sat in the chair in the St James’ Park media suite that he knew the consequences of what was about to come.

If he’d seen the look on Mike Ashley’s faces during the final stages of the heavy derby loss he’d also know in no uncertain terms that slipping up against Newcastle’s bitterest rivals wasn’t just a big problem for the fans, it was also a major issue at boardroom level.

Giving Sunderland credit is a hard thing to do for ardent Newcastle fans, but it was something that many of them had to do on Sunday night, even if it was through gritted teeth.

But in the Premier League years we have seen Newcastle hit levels of supremacy and near-invincibility on home turf as they’ve hit the heights of the top two or top four, only for smaller teams to start tapping into ideology that treating a trip to St James’ Park was like a showpiece event in order to cause a shock.

Sadly, there’s been too much of that this season, but neutral observers still have since noted that Sunderland treated the derby last week as an “FA Cup final”.

No matter, what’s done is done.

Now it is about picking up the pieces for Pardew.

It may be hypothetical, but given the criticism that has emerged this week, had Pardew won the derby for Newcastle on Sunday it could be argued it would have covered up a multitude of sins.

The intoxication of bragging rights and local pride would, rightly or wrongly, have superseded the criticism – much of it valid – about tactics, set- pieces, lack of local lads, a woeful away record, will to win the derby and much more.

And if there is such a thing as something good to come out of losing the fixture, then it is the exposure of what has been a disjointed campaign in every sense of the word.

Deeper questions are still being asked

If Pardew knew the damage losing to Sunderland would cause, it obviously got lost in translation to some of his players.

Or maybe for too many of them this was just another game?

It’s not like Pardew had messed up in previous derbies.

He twice came within minutes of beating Sunderland at the Stadium of Light to go with the 1-0 win in 2011 on Wearside and he’d avoided defeat in the Tyneside leg too, albeit narrowly.

That is all history now though.

Only come teatime tomorrow will we be able to judge how much they care at the Hawthorns by measuring their desire to make some type of amends against West Brom.

Recently Pardew admitted to me that he felt that being knocked out of the FA Cup in the early stages throughout his managerial tenure had placed a “black mark” against his name when it came to the fans.

With that in mind, losing the derby is surely another black mark to go with it, but Pardew’s future now largely depends on banking wins.

The only way he can bolster his CV is by finishing in the top 10 this season in his eyes.

Then, armed with mitigating circumstances, he can turn around to his board and claim that a top-10 finish and a run to the last eight of the Europa League isn’t that bad on paper.

His board find themselves in a tough predicament, having not only backed Pardew THIS season with an eight-year contract but having seemingly put their house on their faith in him by handing him such a long deal.

Getting rid of Pardew would leave them questioning their own judgement.

Had Pardew been dismissed this week it would have been a knee-jerk reaction from Newcastle.

Too many times, United fans have been down that road.

Pardew’s recovery from here on in depends on a strong finish between now and the end of the season.

Then it will be over to the board to ensure his squad is bolstered this summer before the baton is back in Pardew’s hands for him to make a good start next season in the Premier League.

For now though it is all about the trips to West Brom, West Ham and QPR and the home games with Liverpool and Arsenal.

And Pardew knows that better than anybody.

At West Brom he can wake up from the nightmare, but the dreams of glory as Newcastle United manager suddenly seem to be some distance away once again.

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